Persistence of both reversible airway obstruction and higher blood eosinophils may predict lung function decline in severe asthma

Author(s):  
Bruno Sposato ◽  
Marco Scalese ◽  
Alberto Ricci ◽  
Paola Rogliani ◽  
Pierluigi Paggiaro ◽  
...  
2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1702536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Hancox ◽  
Ian D. Pavord ◽  
Malcolm R. Sears

Eosinophilic inflammation and airway remodelling are characteristic features of asthma, but the association between them is unclear. We assessed associations between blood eosinophils and lung function decline in a population-based cohort of young adults.We used linear mixed models to analyse associations between blood eosinophils and spirometry at 21, 26, 32 and 38 years adjusting for sex, smoking, asthma and spirometry at age 18 years. We further analysed associations between mean eosinophil counts and changes in spirometry from ages 21 to 38 years.Higher eosinophils were associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratios and lower FEV1 % predicted values for both pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry (all p-values ≤0.048). Although eosinophil counts were higher in participants with asthma, the associations between eosinophils and spirometry were similar among participants without asthma or wheeze. Participants with mean eosinophil counts >0.4×109 cells·L−1 between 21 and 38 years had greater declines in FEV1/FVC ratios (difference 1.8%, 95% CI 0.7–2.9%; p=0.001) and FEV1 values (difference 3.4% pred, 95% CI 1.5–5.4% pred); p=0.001) than those with lower counts.Blood eosinophils are associated with airflow obstruction and enhanced decline in lung function, independently of asthma and smoking. Eosinophilia is a risk factor for airflow obstruction even in those without symptoms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 175346661984127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Solidoro ◽  
Filippo Patrucco ◽  
Francesca de Blasio ◽  
Luisa Brussino ◽  
Michela Bellocchia ◽  
...  

Background: Omalizumab may modulate airway remodeling in severe asthma. Using forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) as a surrogate of airway remodeling, we aimed to investigate if an omalizumab add-on in severe allergic asthma may lead to a persistent reversal of airway obstruction and to evaluate the potential biomarkers of airway obstruction reversibility. Methods: Data were collected before (T0) and after omalizumab add-on for 1 year (T1, 32 patients), 2 years (T2, 26 patients) and 4 years (T4, 13 patients). All patients had baseline FEV1 below 80 % predicted (60.5 ± 12.5 %). After omalizumab, 18 patients showed FEV1 normalization (reversible airway obstruction; RAO+) already at T1 (88.7 ± 14.9 %, p < 0.0001) that persisted up to T4 (83.2 ± 7.9, p < 0.01), while 14 patients (RAO−) had FEV1 persistently decreased, from T1 (65.2 ± 8.4%, p < 0.05) up to T4 (61.4 ± 6.2%, not significant). Both groups had significant improvement of symptoms and exacerbations after omalizumab at T1, which persisted up to T4. The comparison between pretreatment characteristics of the two groups showed that RAO+ patients, had higher values of circulating eosinophils, exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), prevalence of rhinitis and nasal polyps, need of oral corticosteroids, shorter asthma duration, higher FEV1 and response to albuterol test. The optimal cut-off points predicting FEV1 normalization after omalizumab add-on were 30.5 ppb for FENO and 305 cells/µl for eosinophils. Conclusions: This study suggests that omalizumab add-on contributes to the persistent reversal of airway obstruction in a consistent number of patients with severe allergic asthma, and this beneficial effect is predicted by elevated pretreatment FENO and circulating eosinophils.


2014 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-294.e5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Newby ◽  
Joshua Agbetile ◽  
Beverley Hargadon ◽  
Will Monteiro ◽  
Ruth Green ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Paula C.A. Almeida ◽  
Eduardo V. Ponte ◽  
Valmar Bião ◽  
Adelmir Souza-Machado ◽  
Alvaro A. Cruz

2004 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1052-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Therese Silvanus ◽  
Harald Groeben ◽  
Jürgen Peters

Background In patients with bronchial hyperreactivity, airway instrumentation can evoke life-threatening bronchospasm. However, the best strategy for the prevention of bronchospasm has not been defined. Therefore, in a randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled study, the authors tested whether prophylaxis with either combined salbutamol-methylprednisolone or salbutamol alone (1) improves lung function and (2) prevents wheezing after intubation. Methods Thirty-one patients with partially reversible airway obstruction (airway resistance &gt; 180%, forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] &lt; 70% of predicted value, and FEV1 increase &gt; 10% after two puffs of salbutamol), who were naive to anti-obstructive treatment, were randomized to receive daily for 5 days either 3 x 2 puffs (0.2 mg) of salbutamol alone (n = 16) or salbutamol combined with methylprednisolone (40 mg/day orally) (n = 15). Lung function was evaluated daily. Another 10 patients received two puffs of salbutamol 10 min before anesthesia. In all patients, wheezing was assessed before and 5 min after tracheal intubation. Results Within 1 day, both salbutamol and salbutamol-methylprednisolone treatment significantly improved airway resistance (salbutamol, 4.3+/- 2.0 [SD] to 2.9+/-1.3 mmHg x s x l(-1); salbutamol-methylprednisolone, 5.5+/-2.9 to 3.4+/-1.7 mmHg x s x l(-1)) and FEV1 (salbutamol, 1.79+/-0.49 to 2.12+/-0.61 l; salbutamol-methylprednisolone, 1.58+/-0.66 to 2.04+/-1.05 l) to a steady state, with no difference between groups. However, regardless of whether single-dose salbutamol preinduction or prolonged salbutamol treatment was used, most patients (8 of 10 and 7 of 9) experienced wheezing after intubation. In contrast, only one patient receiving additional methylprednisolone experienced wheezing (P = 0.0058). Conclusions : Pretreatment with either salbutamol alone or salbutamol combined with methylprednisolone significantly and similarly improves lung function within 1 day. However, only combined salbutamol-methylprednisolone pretreatment decreases the incidence of wheezing after tracheal intubation. Therefore, in patients with bronchial hyperreactivity, preoperative treatment with combined corticosteroids and salbutamol minimizes intubation-evoked bronchoconstriction much more effectively than the inhaled beta2-sympathomimetic salbutamol alone.


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